Dear Parents and Families
My best wishes on a wet Monday. I hope you are all well, and have enjoyed something of a break.
I wrote much of this yesterday under beautiful blue skies in Manchester, albeit watching a rather lacklustre Lancashire 1st XI sunning themselves in the field whilst encouraging Leicestershire every opportunity to score as many runs as possible, and listening to a deafening silence from the other Old Trafford in equal disappointment as Wolves scored their eventual winner.
Thank goodness for the rain today to cool my sunburned receding hairline, The sun does however return this week, and pupils are welcome to wear their summer uniform.
Allow me a moment of your time to check some dates and ensure you are aware of some updates from the holiday.
Dates for the Half term
28 Apr 25 - Year 10 Formal Assessments begin
01 May 25 - Whole School Photograph (Full Standard uniform) & Y6/Y11 Formal and Informal photographs (change of clothes required)
01 May 25 - Full Staff Meeting - Evening
05 May 25 - BANK HOLIDAY - SCHOOL CLOSED
07 May 25 - Y11 Study leave commences
08 May 25 - Years 7-10 ISA Athletics @ Manchester City of Sport
08 May 25 - GCSE examinations begin
09 May 25 - Visiting Writer - Ashley Hickson-Lovence
12 May 25 - Year 7-9 Internal assessments
14 May 25 - ISA Junior Athletics @ Sport City Manchester
17 May 25 - Year 8 'Walking Pages' Immersive Drama Performance (around the school building)
23 May 25 - SCHOOL CLOSES FOR WHIT HALF TERM
Events over the last weeks
I am sure none of you were under the illusion that the school was still silent over the last fortnight. Not only was there yet another trip abroad, but much activity on two brilliant relatively new initiatives, together with a vibrant and well visited Spring holiday club and considerable renovation to the rear windows of Belmont Hall.
MADRID
Congratulations to the group of pupils and staff who journeyed to Spain for a cultural tour of Madrid for a long weekend. All went well (and my phone didn't ring once back at home!), and the visit was hugely enriching for all. On behalf of all parents who endured/enjoyed a child-free weekend, my thanks go to Ms Victorino-Wilde for her near-OCD levels of organisation and careful diligence, Mrs Gilmour for her care, enthusiasm and humour, and Ms Parry for brilliantly and selflessly stepping in a short notice to replace another colleague. Please check out the Instagram story here: www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18076952917683223/
Again, please be under no illusion of the effort required to take such a substantial number of pupils abroad. With that in mind, please keep an eye out for the next stage of Wilson’s Exciting Trips across Pan-America in the Name of True Science (please do not use its acronym) in the coming days.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY FARM
Mr Morris deserves a huge amount of congratulations for his considerable commitment to the curation of the Community Farm, which naturally, and with the hard work of parents and pupils alike over the Easter holidays, will grow to provide so many experiential learning opportunities for all of our Junior School. Please take a moment to view the farm web page using the menus above or this link: cransleyschool.com/farm-project
There is much more to come, over months and years, besides understanding the process of crop growth: the benefits of soil care, pest control and responsible land management, all eventually leading to mini commercial opportunities such as the sale of any harvest, or selling foods developed from the crops, and a ensuring sustainability that extends beyond the environmental to the economic and the social.
If any senior parents wish to see the Junior Pupil Parent Bulletin and any of the news happening amongst our youngest pupils, can request a password from the School office.
CRANSLEY SPEEDWORKS MOTORSPORT
These elements of economic, social and environmental sustainability are also key elements in our motorsport project, which took a major forward step in a superb holiday workshop and the build of two F24 Greenpower mini race cars over three days (and a sneaky secret shake-down).
The two teams from Year 8, 9 and 10 were superb in their teamwork, problem solving, technical development and emerging ambition. It was a delight to see the pupils take over, and allow us adults to merely adopt a supervisory role. Having created the cars in their basic form without bodywork, the pupils’ ambition is now to use new software (acquired for the F1 in Schools competition) to design and construct suitable aerodynamic body work, attend a race to acquire data and intel from other teams in July and to compete in their debut race in September.
Once again, thank you to our partners st Speedworks BTCC team, Rix Motors and Dave Whitmore for their support, and to Mrs Cosgrove and Mr Hassall, whose enthusiasm, dedication and expertise have taken this project beyond all of its original objectives.
Any Junior parents should know that this is going to be something all pupils will have access to, if they are interested. And perhaps sooner than you think, as we have also acquired a ‘G2 Goblin’ - a small version of the F24 ready for construction in 2026 by Year 5 and 6 pupils.
FUNFEST
The privately run holiday club FunFest was frequently attended by many of our pupils and those from around Northwich, seemingly with engagement, convenience and good value. Do let me know otherwise and I can inform the operators.
Bookings are open for Spring Half term and the Summer at fun-fest.co.uk/greatbudworth/
BELMONT HALL WIndows
You may have seen the signs on display indicating our objectives to replace the windows of our 18th Century Georgian Mansion over the coming years, beginning with the rear windows, which were near-completed this Easter break. These hand-made units were fitted well over 100 years ago and have long required attention.
We are determined to do them in a stead, cost effective but sensitive manner over the coming years. If there are any 18th Century curved timber frame sash window specialists in our parent body, do let me know!
I hope to see you in the car park tomorrow.
Yours, as ever
Mr Pollock
Headteacher